Antiskidding device.



J. C. LOPEZ. ANTIS KID DING DEVICE. APP-LI CATION FILED JUNEB. 1918.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN CEDRE LOPEZ, F HABANA, CUBA.

ANTISKIDDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed June 8, 1918. Serial No. 238,920.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIAN CEDRii LOPEZ, a citizen of the Republic of Cuba, residing at Habana, Republic, of Cuba, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Antiskidding Devices of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to .motor vehicles and more particularly to means for preventing skidding of the vehicle wheels. The skidding of a vehicle frequently occurs when the running wheels of the vehicle do not en: ter into frictional contact with the road sur face whereby a spinning of the running wheels occurs without exercising a tractive effect upon the vehicle. The cause of this spinning action of the running wheels is largely traceable to a slippery condition of the road surface caused by moisture or excessive smoothness whereby a frictional contact between the running wheels and the road surface is obviated. It therefore constitutes an object of the invention to provide means for insuring the frictional contact between the running wheels and the road surface when the latter by reason of the presence of moisture or the like is unsuitable for engagement with the wheels.

A further object of the invention consists in providing means for sanding the road surface in the path of the running wheels so that the desired frictional contact is ob tained in spite of the slippery condition of the surface.

A further object of the invention aims at the provision of means for controlling the discharge of the sand onto the road surface so that only certain parts of the road unsuitable for driving purposes are sprinkled with sand.

A further object of the invention aims at the provision of a receptacle or reservoir secured to the vehicle frame and provided with discharge nozzles in juxtaposition to the running wheels whereby sanding of the road surface is effected only at such parts constituting the path of the running wheels.

lVi-th these and other objects in viewi which will become apparent upon perusal of the specification. the invention comprises the means hereinafter furtherdescribed and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of a motor vehicle equipped with the invention with parts being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the reservoir and the means for discharging the sand therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the means for controlling the discharge from the reservoir.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 14.' of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a receptacle of rectangular cross section open at its top and adapted to receive a quantity of sand or other material suitable for the purposes of the invention. The open upper end of the receptacle 1 is closed by a cover or lid 2 which may be removed to permit access to the interior of the receptacle. The receptacle is formed with a conical bottom 3 which at its lowermost end defines arestricted opening for the passage of the contents stored in the receptacle 1. The bottom 3 is formedintegral with or secured to a pipe 4 to which a valve generally designated by 5 is secured, controlling the passage of the contents in the manner hereinafter described. The valve 5 has a. circumferential slot 6 extending half of the periphery and permitting reciprocation of a plate valve 7 which in the inner or retracted posit-ion closes the passage in the valve chamber and prevents discharge of the contents of the receptacle. The plate 7 has a pair of openings 8 in which the ends of a helical spring 9 are secured, said spring encompassing approximately one half of the circumference of the valve 5 to retain the plate 7 in retracted or closing position. The plate 7 is also equipped with an aperture 10 to which a cable or cord 11 is fastened leading at its other end to an operating lever 12 disposed within reach of the driver so as to enable actuation of the valve whenever the discharge of sand onto the road surface is desired. To the valve casing 5 atubular member 13 is secured which branches into the pipes or conduits 14 preferably made of flexible material and terminating in nozzles 15 and 16, and formed with circular discharge openings 17. The nozzles 16, 17 as indicated in Fig. 1 are disposed in front of and adjacent to the rear running wheels from which the tractive-force of the vehicle is derived. The nozzles 16, 17 are of circular form and contain a foraminous plate 18 disposed at right angles with respect to the collar 19 is secured to the valve casing 5 and is attached by a bracket 20 to the frame of the vehicle in any preferred or suitable manner to insure proper location of the parts. The pipes lat are also maintained in fixed location by suitable supports, not shown, so as to maintain the nozzles in functional position with respect to the running wheels.

' l he operation of the device is as follows: When in the course of the driving the slippery road surface is impeding the advance of the vehicle, the driver moves the lever 12 to withdraw the plate 7 from the valve casing 5 against the tension of the circumferential spring 9 whereby the passage for the sand stored in the receptacle 1 is opened. The sand flows past the valve 5 and passes through the pipes let out of the nozzles 15, 16, onto the road surface in front of the rear running wheels to effect frictional engagement between the latter and the road surface. After a normal road surface is encountered and the discharge of sand becomes superfluous the lever 12 is released and the valve plate 7 is forced into retracted position under the influence of the spring 9 preventing further discharge of the sand.

In the drawing the arrangement and construction of the parts are indicated by way of example and changes will readily suggest themselves to those versed in the art. Thus the receptacle may be arranged at any other location and the means for controlling the discharge of the sand may be varied to suit special requirements. I, therefore, do not intend to limit myself to the exact constructional features as shown but want to avail myself of any departures which fairly fall Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

1 claim:

In combination with a vehicle and its running wheels, a sand receptacle secured to the vehicle frame, a discharging pipe for said receptacle, a. plurality of branch pipes communicating with said discharging pipe and provided with nozzles at their free ends, a

valve controlling the communication between said discharging pipe and said recep tacle, said valve comprising a plate reciprocatingly fitted within the valve casing, a coil spring encompassing approximately one half of the valve casing and connected to the valve, a lever, and means for transmitting movement of said lever to said 'alve plate.

In witness whereof I my signature.

simian onnnn' Lornz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

